Stardew Valley Fishing Guide: Rods, Bait and Legendary Fish

Fishing in Stardew Valley comes down to three things: the right rod for your level, fishing in the right place at the right time and weather, and keeping the green bar on the fish during the minigame. Start with the Bamboo Pole, buy the Fiberglass Rod at Fishing level 2 so you can use bait, and move to the Iridium Rod at level 6 for tackle.

Last checked: November 9, 2026, for version 1.6.15.

How the fishing minigame works

Cast by holding the use button and releasing it; a longer hold casts farther. When a fish bites, an exclamation mark appears: press the button to hook it, and the minigame opens.

• A tall meter shows a fish icon and a green bar.
• Hold the button to lift the green bar, release it to let it fall.
• While the fish is inside the green bar, the catch meter on the right fills. When it is outside, the meter drains.
• Fill the meter to catch the fish. If it empties, the fish escapes.

Each fish moves in its own style. Some dart up and down, some float upward, some sink and some move smoothly, and harder fish move faster and more often. The bar grows as your Fishing level rises, so the minigame gets easier with practice.

Treasure chests sometimes appear during a catch. Move the bar over the chest to fill its own small meter while you keep the fish in check. Chests can hold bait, ores, geodes, artifacts and rings.

Perfect catches happen when the fish never leaves the bar. They raise the fish's quality and give extra experience.

Every fishing rod and how to get it

The Training Rod is an easy-mode rod for beginners. Most players skip it and fish with the Bamboo Pole until the Fiberglass Rod unlocks. Bait is the big early upgrade, because it makes fish bite much faster, so buy the Fiberglass Rod as soon as you hit level 2.

Willy's Fish Shop is on the pier at the beach. Since 1.6.9 it opens on Spring 2 of year 1 even if you missed Willy's letter.

Bait: what each type does

A Worm Bin makes bait for you every day. Since 1.6 the recipe unlocks at Fishing level 4, and a Deluxe Worm Bin makes Deluxe Bait.

Tackle for the Iridium Rod

Tackle clips onto the Iridium Rod and wears out after a number of catches. Willy sells most of it once your Fishing level is high enough.

For hard fish, the Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber makes the biggest difference. With the Advanced Iridium Rod you can combine two, for example a Cork Bobber with a Trap Bobber.

Crab pots

Crab pots are fishing without the minigame. Buy them from Willy for 1,500g once you reach Fishing level 3, or craft one from 40 Wood and 3 Iron Bars. Put bait in a pot, place it in water, and check it the next day.

Pots can also pull up trash. The Crab Pot bundle in the Fish Tank room needs five of these ten catches; see the Community Center guide for the rest of the fish bundles.

Where and when to fish

Every fish has a location, season, time window and sometimes a weather rule. A few examples:

Rainy days matter. Several valuable fish, including Catfish, Eel and Walleye, only bite in the rain, so save rainy days for fishing rather than watering.

The five legendary fish

Each legendary fish can be caught once per save, or once per player in co-op. They are the hardest catches in the game.

Use your best rod, a Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber, and food that raises Fishing level. Since 1.6.9 you can also place legendary fish in fish ponds, one per pond.

How to level up fishing fast

• Fish every day you can. Each catch gives experience, and harder fish give more.
• Use bait from level 2. More bites per hour means more experience per day.
• Go for perfect catches on easy fish for the bonus.
• Read skill books. The 1.6 bookseller sells books that grant Fishing experience.
• Crab pots help a little too: each pot you empty gives a small amount of experience.

Fishing professions

For money, Fisher then Angler is the usual pick. Crab pot players often go Trapper and Luremaster.

Making money from fish

• Smoke them. The Fish Smoker, added in 1.6, doubles a fish's value. Riverland Farm starts with one.
• Fish ponds produce roe, which a Preserves Jar turns into Aged Roe. Sturgeon roe becomes Caviar. The artisan goods guide compares these with kegs and jars.
• Festivals. The Trout Derby (Summer 20 and 21) and SquidFest (Winter 12 and 13) are 1.6 fishing festivals with their own prizes.

Frequently asked questions

When can I get the Fiberglass Rod in Stardew Valley?

Willy sells the Fiberglass Rod for 1,800g once you reach Fishing level 2. It is the first rod that can use bait.

How do you catch fish easier in Stardew Valley?

Level up, use a Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber on the Iridium Rod, and eat food that boosts Fishing. Bait doesn't make the minigame easier, but it makes fish bite faster so you get more practice.

What are the legendary fish in Stardew Valley?

There are five: Angler (fall), Crimsonfish (summer), Glacierfish (winter), Legend (spring, rain) and Mutant Carp (Sewers, any season). Each can be caught once per save, or once per player in co-op.

How do you get the Advanced Iridium Rod?

It is a Fishing Mastery reward, and since patch 1.6.9 it is also listed in Willy's shop. It holds bait and two tackles at once.

What is the best fishing profession?

For income, choose Fisher at level 5 and Angler at level 10, which makes fish worth 50% more. Choose Trapper and Luremaster if you would rather run crab pots without buying bait.